Improvement in supporters for cotton-pickers



WILLIAM J. LYNCH, OF OLD TOWN, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO WILLA V. JOHNSON, OF SAME'PLAGE.

IMPROYEMENTIIN SUPPORTERS F-OR CQOTTON-JPICKERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,100, dated February 1, 1876 3 application filed December 27, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- WILLIAM J. LYNCH, of Old Town, in the county of Phillips and State of Arkansas, have invented certain'ne'w and useful Improvements in Supporters for Cotton-Pickers; and I do hereby declare'that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a novel supporting apparatus, designed to be worn by cottonpickers while at-work; and it consists of two wooden staffs, having peculiarly-constructed foot-rests pivoted at the bottom, and sliding connections near the center of the same,

rests are made ofany suitable metal, adapted in shape to fit the foot, and, extending upward, terminate in a band working transversely upon the staff to follow the motions of the feet in an easy manner. 'D represents hollow cylinders, arranged to slide up and down upon'the staffs B, in accordance with the motions of the body of the operator while picking cotton, and provided with openings on the inner side, as represented in the drawing. J represents an eye upon the back of the cylinder, through which passes a ring, H, fitting loosely over the said cylinder D, said ring being provided with an upwardly-projecting arm or shoulder, G, to which is connected the belt A by a coiled spring, F, as shown in the drawing. At the base of the arm or shoulder G, upon the ring H, is a wedge-shaped lug,"i, the object of which is to hold the said cylinder D at any point desired upon the staif B, suitably to the difterent motions of the body of the cotton-picker. The spring F 'is attached to the belt A by means of a metallic band adapted to slide upon said belt.

I do not, however, confine'myself to the,

the bands E passing over the shoulders, and

the feet fitted into the foot-rests O, the bottoms of the staffs resting upon the ground,

so as to bring the bottomsof the feet on a level with its surface. As the wearer passes from one stalk of cotton to another in the different stooping positions taken while picking, he is supported at any point by throwingthe knees outward against the staffs, which action presses the lug 'iinto the staff, I

and holds the operator in a comfortable and easy position, and when he rises to a higher position the action throws the lug c off from I the staff to admit of the sliding cylinder moving higher to the position desired. v

The advantages of my invention will be readily seen, inasmuch as it" combines in its construction and operation. a high degree of simplicity and durability with a ready adaptation to the purposes intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire o secure ters Patent, is

l. The hereinbefore-described supportfor cotton-pickers, consisting of the staffs B, having pivoted foot-rests G, sliding cylinders D,

rings H, passing through eyes J, and provided with projecting arms or shoulders G, and I wedge-shaped lug i, in combination with the spring F and belt A, the several parts being by Letconstructed, arranged, and combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The stafl's B, provided with the pivoted movable footrest O, sliding cylinders D, and rings H, substantially as shown and described.

3. The belt A, provided with the shoulderstraps E, in combination with the springs F and staffs B, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention, I.,affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LYNCH.

Witnesses: M JOHN W. MURPHY, EUoLrn L. JOHNSON. 

